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I'm Halle: food lover, gardener, blogger and a mama trying to feed her family the best way possible. I love photography, especially shooting images of food! My goal is to make you drool and inspire you to want all things healthy! ❤Learn More →

Lots of Citrus and other local produce – chiles, avocados, tomatillos, and more!

Dates

Bee Pollen

Homemade Artisan Bread

Hummus

Filipino Marinades and Dressings

Fresh Tortillas

Mesquite Flour and Pancake Mix

Prickly Pear Syrup

Locally Produced Olive Oil

Pichu Berries

Vegan Chocolate

Crème Brulee

Goat Cheese

Aloe Vera Plants

Tomato Plants

…and much more!

Churro Sheep Wool

One of my all-time favorite farmers market products isn’t a food at all. A few years ago, I took a spinning class led by Celia Petersen of Chile Acres Farms where we learned how to clean fresh sheep wool, card it, draft it, and spin it into yarn. We also used natural plant dyes to dye the yarn. It was a real learning experience and really made me appreciate the art of spinning.

Something I loved about the class was that it emphasized using wool of native sheep. For example, the instructor taught us about the Navajo churro sheep, a once-endangered species that escaped extinction due to remarkable preservation efforts. Although they are still threatened, populations have started to stabilize in recent years. To this day, the Navajo tribes in Arizona come together to honor this rare breed.

Just this week, Chile Acres Farms had a felting class for little kids. My 4-year-old daughter had a great time learning how to felt wool from a real sheep and made a toy snake for our cat.

As much as I love the food, these educational opportunities are probably my favorite thing about our trips to the market. I love it that my children are learning where their food comes from – not to mention their clothing!

My Favorite Phoenix Products

The different species of animals and plants that you find in the Sonoran desert have really made me fall in love with Phoenix. Here are a couple other local items that I’ve discovered during our trips to the market:

I had no idea that the pods of the mesquite tree are so healthy and delicious. If you follow a gluten free diet and are looking for a new flour to try, give mesquite a try. It’s high in protein and nutrients, and it tastes great.

2. Prickly Pear

Every year in September and October, prickly pear cacti start to bear fruit. If you’re not familiar with the meticulous and sensitive art of removing them from the cactus, you can watch an interesting video here. When they’re in season, my husband and I love to use the fruits (also known as tunas) to make homemade prickly pear syrup and prickly pear liqueur.

These amazing little berries are closely related to the tomatillo plant and have a lovely tart taste. They are native to Peru and are packed full of vitamin C, vitamin A, and – believe it or not – a considerable amount of protein!

4. Aloe Vera

We have several aloe vera plants in our yard, and they’re also a hot item at the market this time of year. Like most desert plants, aloe vera has been used for centuries for its medicinal qualities. I’ve never tried eating it, but it works well in relieving sunburn or dry, itchy skin.

Nicole Crawford lives in Phoenix with her two spunky daughters and handsome husband. She is passionate about truly nourishing her children and instilling healthy habits at a young age. Nicole is a NASM certified personal trainer and AFPA certified pre- and post-natal fitness specialist. She is currently fulfilling the requirements to become a DONA certified birth doula. In addition to her blog, Nicole is the Editorial Coordinator and Contributor at BreakingMuscle.com and a regular contributor at several sites, including FitBottomed Mamas, The Bump, and LIVESTRONG.com. In her free time Nicole has a varied list of hobbies, including cooking, reading, knitting, volunteering, running, swinging kettlebells, and enjoying the great outdoors.

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DISCLAIMER: The content on the blog Whole Lifestyle Nutrition is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. I am not a medical professional and the information contained on this blog should not be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or health illness. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented here.

Join the Conversation

Where in Phoenix is the farmers market with the wool? And where are the others? We have a couple of churches that on certain days of the month you go and pay $10.00 for up to 60 lbs (that’s a lot) of fresh produce. It’s not organic but I go and then share with my family. You usually feel guilty with all the produce you take home. We also are lucky enough to have Bountiful Baskets in our neighborhood. I wish the whole country could reap all of their benefits.

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Whole Lifestyle Nutrition is a place where Halle Cottis can share healthy recipes, help others grow their own organic food and coach people to healthy success. Are you looking to take your health and nutrition to the next level? We can help you do that! Read More...to find out how!